In an effort to meet future CO₂ emission targets, manufacturers of commercial vehicles are also focusing to a larger extent on technical solutions within the engine itself. Alongside the controllable oil pump, developers are placing particular emphasis on the issue of piston cooling. By taking a targeted approach at influencing the temperature of the piston, it is possible not only to reduce the overall thermal load when the engine is hot but also to improve the engine's cold-start performance – for example, by temporarily suspending piston cooling during warm-up. This helps to reduce both pollutant emissions and oil consumption by a significant margin. Thomas has developed a unique, compact valve concept that enables high volume flow rates of over 70 liters per minute with a minimal pressure drop of less than 0.5 bar. The energy-efficient switching valve from Thomas delivers an effective piston cooling solution even for high-powered engines in the heavy-duty segment.